Self-contained squeeze card hanging package

ABSTRACT

A tamper-resistant hanging package particularly attractive in the squeezing of a confectionery, cosmetic or other flowable product content out through a nozzle includes a tear-off corner which, upon twisting, removes a connected cap from the nozzle of a bladder in which the product content is stored in allowing the product content to be sucked or spread through the nozzle; but with the tear-off corner being thereafter separable from the cap to allow the cap to be placed back onto the nozzle to close off and retain any remaining product content in the bladder for future use.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

NONE

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Research and development of this invention and Application have not been federally sponsored, and no rights are given under any Federal program.

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

NOT APPLICABLE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to hanging package products for displaying items for retail sale, in general, and to a self-contained hanging package particularly attractive for the display sale of confectionery, and wet or dry form cosmetics, in particular.

2. Description of the Related Art

Hanging package products for display sales generally consist of carded packagings where such goods as toys, hardware, and electrical items are contained between a specially made paperboard card and a clear pre-formed plastic shells, typically of polyvinylchloride. Allowing a consumer to easily examine the product through the transparent plastic, the plastic shell is typically vacuum-formed around a mold to contain the item snugly. The card is usually brightly colored and designed depending on the item inside, and the polyvinylchloride is affixed to the card using heat and pressure to activate an adhesive to form a heat seal coating on the card. Oftentimes, referred to as blister packs, the adhesive employed is selected strong enough so that the pack may hang on a peg, but weak enough so that the package can be easily opened. Sometimes with large items, the card has a perforated window for access to allow the item inside to be more easily removed.

As will be readily appreciated, however, these hanging package units, in construction, embody two separate products—the item itself, and the package which surrounds it. Frequently, the package is designed to be difficult to open by hand so as to deter tampering. With this, as with the simpler version of allowing easy access to the item inside, once the package is opened and the plastic shell discarded, there is little that can be done to recover the item for future use, resulting in the wasting of the extra materials employed.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and unique hanging package product for display unit sales which overcomes this disadvantage of the prior art.

It is an object of the present invention, also, to provide such a hanging package product in which the item inside and the clear plastic shell are formed together as a self-contained construction.

It is another object of the invention to provide a hanging package product of this nature which is particularly attractive for the display sales of confectionery, and wet or dry form cosmetics.

It is a further object of the invention to provide this confectionery and cosmetic hanging package product which is both tamper resistant in opening, but able to be closed off to save any remaining product after a partial draining of its contents.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide this hanging package product for display unit sales in which the product content can be released by a simple squeezing of the plastic shell itself.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

As will become clear from the following description, the tamper resistant self-contained hanging package of the invention is formed of three unique components—a bladder, a cap, and a sealing card. The bladder component will be seen to be fabricated of a squeezable plastic, preferably flat on one side, and fillable with any type of confectionery, and wet or dry form cosmetic. The cap component will be seen to be provided with “ears”—which, when the package is ready to be opened, are turned to both open the cap and separate it from a nozzle of the bladder. The sealing card component will be seen to be die cut, with an outer layer of cardboard and an inner layer of plastic for not only supporting the finished product, but to be foldable to allow the bladder and all interior areas of the card to be heat sealed together. Designed with a “tear-corner”, the only way to access and dispense the product contents will be seen to be a ripping of this corner which, at the same time, opens the cap and removes it from the bladder nozzle. Fabricating the ripped “tear-corner” to be easily removable from the cap, furthermore, allows the cap itself to be thereafter attached to the nozzle in closing off the bladder to save any remaining content for later use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features of the invention will be more clearly understood from a consideration of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1 a-1 e are perspective and/or sectional views of the bladder component of the self-contained hanging package in a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 2 a-2 f are perspective, sectional and other views of the cap component of the preferred hanging package invention;

FIGS. 3 a-3 b are outer and inner views of the sealing card component of the invention;

FIGS. 4 a-4 d are views helpful in understanding the forming of the bladder, the cap, and the sealing card into the self-contained hanging package of the invention; and

FIGS. 5 a-5 c and FIGS. 6 a-6 c are views helpful in appreciating modifications that can be made in constructing alternative embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The bladder component 10 of the self-contained hanging package is fabricated from a soft and squeezable material, enabling a user to easily dispense and squeeze out its contents—such as confectionery, and wet or dry cosmetic products. In the preferred embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1 a-1 e, the bladder is fabricated of a low density, squeezable polyethylene formed as a half unit—its top 12 being shown in the front perspective views of FIGS. 1 a, 1 b, and 1 c, and in the sectional view of FIG. 1 d, as “domed”, and its bottom 14 as shown in the bottom perspective view of FIG. 1 e as a flat base. A nozzle of the bladder is shown at 16, centered on the bladder 12, with the nozzle 16 pointed upwardly in FIG. 1 a and downwardly in FIG. 1 c. In particular, the top half 18 of the nozzle 16 is located at the top of the bladder 12 (as shown in the sectional cut view of FIG. 1 d), with the bottom half 20 of the nozzle 16 being located at the flat base of the bladder in that sectional cut view. As shown in the bottom perspective view of FIG. 1 e with the nozzle 16 pointing downwardly, the nozzle area 22 is convex so as to allow the opening of the nozzle to remain in full circle. The nozzle 16 is threaded at 24 so as to screw with the cap component illustrated in the views of FIG. 2. A pair of stoppers 26, 27 are shown on the nozzle 16 in FIG. 1 e to match up with the sealing card, to be described in the views of FIG. 3. Reference numeral 28 illustrates an opening in the nozzle 16 for the filling of the wet or dry product content. Reference numeral 30 identifies a thin edge of the bladder 10 to allow the bladder to easily seal to the sealing card of the FIG. 3 views by sandwiching between its layers.

As an appreciation of the views of FIGS. 2 and 3 will illustrate, the stoppers 26 and 27 are in the shoulder of the nozzle 16, and essentially comprise two small points which stop the cap from unlimited rotation when the cap is screwed onto the nozzle; this allows the cap ears to be described below to be parallel with the sealing card. At the same time, the thin edge 30 which frames the bladder 10 will be seen to seal the bladder to an inner wall of the sealing card. As will be described with respect to the views of FIG. 3, once the bladder 10 is filled, and the cap of the views of FIG. 2 is affixed, the bladder 10 is dropped into the open “sealed card”, facing the inner layer. The card is then folded closed and the card and bladder are heat sealed together.

The cap component 35 of the hanging package is illustrated in the various views of FIG. 2. Specifically, FIG. 2 a is a front view of the cap, FIG. 2 b is a perspective view of the cap with its bottom 37 facing downwardly, FIG. 2 c is a perspective view of the cap showing its top surface 39, FIG. 2 d is a bottom view of the cap, FIG. 2 e is a perspective view of the cap with its bottom facing upwardly, and FIG. 2 f is a sectional view of the cap showing its internal structure. As previously mentioned, the cap 35 screws onto the nozzle 16 of the bladder at 24 by way of threads 41 within the cap bottom 37. Preferably, the cap is fabricated of polypropylene.

Reference numerals 43 and 45 identify extensions on opposite sides of the cap allowing the cap 35 to be fixed into a corner 85 of the sealing card illustrated in the views of FIG. 3. These extensions (or “ears”), more specifically, are sealed into a top corner of the card, sandwiched between its inner and outer layers. Being so hidden within the card once sealed into it, the ears 43, 45 cannot be seen from the front or back of the card—but when the package is ready to be opened by the user ripping the top corner 85 from the card, the ears that are extended within are turned as well, and will open the cap in separating it from the nozzle of the bladder. The corner and cap that are together can then easily be separated from one another by breaking the meeting points or tearable perforations between them. Once the cap is separated, the cap ears are exposed but the cap can be screwed back onto the nozzle to close the remaining contents of the bladder for later use.

In this respect, inside the cap 35 are a pair of stoppers 47, 48 on a track 49 with a raised edge located on both sides of the cap (FIG. 2 c). Such stoppers 47, 48 operate in conjunction with the stoppers 26, 27 of the nozzle 16 (FIG. 1 e) in allowing for the ears 43, 45 to be parallel with the bladder 10 and the sealing card of the FIG. 3 views. An inner plug 51 on the cap 35 (FIG. 2 f) seals the opening of the nozzle 16 as the cap 35 is screwed onto the nozzle. In effectuating this, the plug 51 is slightly tapered so as to be forced into the nozzle 16 in sealing off the nozzle.

The sealing card support component 75 of the hanging package of the invention is composed of an outer cardboard layer 60 (FIG. 3 a) and an inner polyethylene layer 62 (FIG. 3 b). The outer cardboard side is printed at 64 with related information and advertising and serves as a support for the hanging package. The inner layer 62, on the other hand, is to be heat sealed both to the bladder 10, and to itself once folded over. Those areas identified by the reference numeral 66 together form a Euro hole for hanging the card once the card is folded over upwardly, and preferably in half, along a fold line 68 and sealed. The areas identified by the reference numerals 70, 72 are die cut to receive the front and back of the bladder nozzle 16, respectively, when the bladder is dropped into the card. Those areas shown by the reference numerals 74, 76 are die cut to receive the front and back of the bladder 10, respectively. With the card of FIGS. 3 a and 3 b folded over in half, with the framing edge 30 then abutting the inner layer 62, and with all of the meeting materials being of a form of polyethylene (with the exception of the cap) so as to be heat sealable together, the bladder 10 and all interior areas of the card can be sealed.

Reference numeral 78 in FIG. 3 b identifies an embossed edge for the dropped-in placement of the bladder 10, while that area identified by the reference numeral 80 represents a debossed area in FIG. 3 a. The embossed area 78 aligns the bladder's edge 30 of FIGS. 1 a, 1 b or 1 c, as well as the cap ears 43, 45 of the card. Such areas 78, 80 allow the card to be better sealed, as the thickness from the bladder's edge 30 and the cap ears 43, 45 are absorbed by the embossing of the card. With a finish of the card being flat and even all around, and with all edges of the card being sealed, it will be appreciated that the only way to access the product is by tearing away the top corner 85 of the card. A tear line 87 is shown in FIGS. 3 a and 3 b, along with tearable perforations 89 which attach to the cap ears 43, 45. In particular, the perforated area 85 once given a rotational twist tears away from the card layers 60, 62; and, at the same time opens the cap ears 43 and 45 to separate the cap 35 from the bladder 10. Such tamper-resistant feature of the hanging package is supplemented through a further easy removal of the cap from the card so that the cap can then be fixed to the bladder without the torn corner, for later use. This follows from the cap being then tearable away from the perforations 89. Moreover, the cap is additionally fabricated from polypropylene, so as not to be sealed with the inner polyethylene layer of the card 62. In this respect, fabricating the layer 62 of a polyethylene allows that lamination of the card to be sealed to the thin edge 30 of the bladder, while leaving the outer layer 60 of the card as a standable, printable paper-type or cardboard-type board of any desired specific weight.

FIGS. 4 a-4 d are helpful in appreciating how the self-contained card hanging package of the invention may be formed. In particular, FIG. 4 a is an exploded view of all components of the package, FIG. 4 b is a partially assembled view of the bladder, cap and sealing card components, FIG. 4 c is a front view of all the parts assembled, and FIG. 4 d is a back view of all the assembled parts. The bladder 10 with its bottom 14 and its nozzle 16 is illustrated in FIG. 4 a, as is the cap 35 with its ears 43, 45. So too, is the embossed edge 78 on the inside card polyethylene layer 62 with the tear line 87 and its tear point perforations 89. FIG. 4 b shows the bladder 10 dropped into the polyethylene inner layer 62, with the outer layer 60 being folded over the bladder to the inner layer 62 by rotating the bottom portion of the card upwardly. (Once this is done, the card is then heat-sealed all around in locking the bladder into the card.) With FIG. 4 c showing a front view of the heat sealed card when closed in full assembly, the tear corner 85 is at the upper right (or at the upper left in the back view of the assembled parts as viewed in FIG. 4 d.) When so folded over and assembled, the soft and squeezable “dome” 12 of the bladder 10 is displayed on the package front, the remaining space 90 being utilizable for additional printing and advertising. The back of the sealed card viewed in FIG. 4 d shows the bladder nozzle 16 being exposed, along with the area 64 on which the printing and product advertising is illustrated. A self-contained squeeze card hanging package thus results.

When so assembled, the perforated area all the way through the top corner of the card, when twisted or torn in a counterclockwise position, tears open the card in allowing the cap 35 to be removed. The torn off cardboard corner and cap can be easily separated, and the cap replaced upon the bladder's nozzle 16 so that the remaining product can be accessed at another time. This follows, since the ears 43, 45 allow the cap 35 to turn while the corner is being torn from the card—but since the cap 35 is made of polypropylene rather than polyethylene (i.e., another material), the cap 35 will not seal to the card. Once the cap 35 is removed from the nozzle 16, the contents of the bladder—whatever it may be—can be squeezed and sucked out (or just squeezed out) the nozzle opening simply by pressing down on the low density polyethylene bladder. Once the bladder is emptied, the bladder can simply be discarded.

Whereas there has been described what is considered to be a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will readily be appreciated that modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from its teachings. For example, while the preferred embodiment has been described with a single product containing bladder, double chambered bladders with nozzles 90° apart can be located at both the left and right corners of the card, as well. Likewise, the bladder design can be of amy geometric or freeform shape—all as shown in, for example, the single chamber splodge of FIG. 5 a, the single chamber star of FIG. 5 b, and the double chamber freeform of FIG. 5 c, each with its own tear-away corner and capped ears sandwiched between the inner polyethylene layer and the outer cardboard layer of the sealing card. In similar manner, the cap component can be changed over to a sprayer-type component to provide a spray version of the invention—as shown in the front view, back view, and assembly view of FIGS. 6 a, 6 b and 6 c where reference numeral 200 identifies the Euro hole for hanging, reference numeral 201 represents the cap with its ears centered between the two panels of the card, with the tear points to open the card and free up the cap being shown at 202, with a sprayer down tube shown at 203, with the bladder sealed to the inside of the card shown at 204, with the tear away portion of the card shown at 205, with the back-side cardboard for printing and advertising shown at 206, with the top portion of the card being torn away and discarded at 207, with the cap being removed from the top portion of the card and replaceable onto the sprayer as at 208, with the spray nozzle at 209, and with a screw-on closure attached to the spray end assembly as at 210. In each arrangement of the views of FIGS. 5 and 6, the squeezable bladder can be filled with any type of product—whether it be confectionery, or cosmetic of wet or dry form.

And, as yet another feature and modification of the invention, instead of having the bladder component 10 essentially of a clear composition to allow a consumer to easily view its contents, the bladder portion can be printed or decorated with whatever images may be desired in resembling characters, scenes or topological features for example—and with or without the bladder having a flat base bottom. As will be understood, however, by having a flat base bottom instead of one which is convex, the ease of printing the back of the sealing card with backgrounds, advertising, and information becomes not only simpler, but allows for greater informational content.

For at least the foregoing reasons (and for the further reason that the squeezable bladder can contain a wide type of flowable product contents other than confections, or cosmetics), resort should be had to the claims appended hereto for a true understanding of the scope of the invention. 

1. A package display unit comprising: a support card having an inner heat-sealable plastic layer and an outer cardboard layer; a squeezable bladder of product content to be dispensed through a nozzle thereof; a heat-sealable plastic edge framing said bladder; die cut areas through said inner and outer layers to receive said bladder and said nozzle; a cap for said nozzle having opposing side extensions sandwiched between said inner and outer layers of said card at a corner thereof; a tear line between said corner and the remainder of said card; and a fold line across said support card for folding a bottom portion of said inner layer of said support card over a top portion of said inner layer of said support card in bringing said heat-sealable plastic edge framing said bladder in abutting relationship with said inner heat-sealable plastic layer.
 2. The package display unit of claim 1 wherein said fold line divides said support card in half,
 3. The package display unit of claim 1 wherein said inner heat-sealable plastic layer and said heat-sealable plastic edge framing said bladder are fabricated of polyethylene.
 4. The package display unit of claim 1 wherein said squeezable bladder is fabricated of low density polyethylene.
 5. The package display unit of claim 1 wherein said cap is fabricated of polypropylene.
 6. The package display unit of claim 1 wherein said fold line divides said support card in half, wherein said inner heat-sealable plastic layer and said heat-sealable plastic edge are fabricated of polyethylene, wherein said squeezable bladder is fabricated of low density polyethylene, and wherein said cap is fabricated of polypropylene.
 7. The package display unit of claim 1, also including tearable perforations between said opposing side extensions of said cap and said inner and outer layers of said support card.
 8. The package display unit of claim 1 wherein said bladder includes a domed top and a flat base.
 9. The package display unit of claim 1, including die cut areas through said inner and outer layers of said support card to receive a peg for hanging said display unit.
 10. The package display unit of claim 1, including areas on said cardboard layer to receive print information of the product content within said bladder.
 11. The package display unit of claim 6, also including tearable perforations between said opposing side extensions of said cap and said inner and outer layers of said support card, wherein said bladder includes a domed top and a flat base, die cut areas through said inner and outer layers of said support card to receive a peg for hanging said display unit, and areas on said cardboard layer to receive print information of the product content within said bladder.
 12. The package display unit of claim 2 wherein a top half of said support card includes a die cut area for receiving the bladder and nozzle and wherein a bottom half of said support card includes a die cut area to overlie said nozzle when folded upwardly across said support card.
 13. The package display unit of claim 1 wherein said squeezable bladder is fabricated of a transparent plastic.
 14. The package display unit of claim 1 wherein said squeezable bladder encloses a confectionery and wet or dry form cosmetic.
 15. The package display unit of claim 1 wherein said squeezable bladder contains a flowable product content.
 16. A package display unit comprising: a squeezable bladder of product content to be dispensed through a nozzle thereof; a heat-sealable plastic edge framing said bladder; a support card having an inner heat-sealable plastic layer and an outer cardboard layer between which said heat-sealable plastic edge is sandwiched; a cap for said nozzle having opposing side extensions sandwiched between said inner and outer layers of said support card at a corner thereof; a tear line between said corner and the remainder of said support card; and a Euro hanging hole through said support card.
 17. The package display unit of claim 16, including tearable perforations between said opposing side extensions and said support card corner. 